Unions serve Viterra with 72-hour strike notice

More than 400 workers at Viterra Canada are ready to strike.

GSU locals 1 and 2, which represent the country operations and maintenance workers and employees at Regina head office respectively, served Viterra with 72-hour strike notice on Tuesday.

The move comes after the unions rejected a final offer from the grain-handling and agri-business company in mid-December.

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According to the unions, negotiations will resume on Wednesday and Thursday in Regina. If an agreement isn’t reached, the strike could kick off at 2 p.m. on Friday.

“This strike notice provides for time for the company to come back to negotiations and address members’ concerns,” Steve Torgerson, GSU’s general secretary, said in a statement.

Torgerson said the union wants to get back to the bargaining table, but warned the company that workers’ patience is running out.

According to the union, its primary goals during negotiations are to secure “fair wages, improved work-life balance, and workplace respect.”

Viterra said the unions represent 436 employees across Saskatchewan and at its Regina head office.

According to the company, the negotiations this week will include a government-appointed mediator.

“The company will also consider a lockout in the event an agreement cannot be reached,” Viterra said in a statement.

Jordan Jakubowski, vice-president of human resources for Viterra Canada, said the company is hopeful that won’t be necessary.

“We are committed to the collective bargaining process and remain cautiously optimistic that we will be able to arrive at an agreement with the GSU,” Jakubowski said in a statement.

According to Viterra, contingency plans are in place to minimize any disruptions to customers caused by a strike or lockout.